Lorraine
Desmarais

BIOGRAPHY

Pianist and composer Lorraine Desmarais is known in Canada, the USA, Europe, Mexico, China, Indonesia and Africa for her solo, trio and big band performances. She has also appeared with many symphony orchestras. She has twelve albums of original compositions. Three of these albums (Trio Lorraine Desmarais , Jazz pour Noël and Big Band) have received FÉLIX awards at the Gala de ADISQ. In 2011, she received a Doctorat Honoris 

Causa​ from the Université du Québec à Montréal​​


 (UQÀM). In 2013, she was awarded by becoming Member of the Order of Canada. Lorraine Desmarais played in concert with artists of worldwide renown such as, Chick Corea, Oliver Jones, Jacky Terrasson, Joe Lovano, The New York Diva Big Band, the Brubeck Brothers and Paquito D’Rivera. 


​FROM QUEBEC - CANADA​​

​AWARDS

  • 2016 Prix OPUS : concert de l’année-région pour l’œuvre‘’Rimouski Jazz Suite’’
  • ​​2015 Prix Vic Vogel Festi Jazz International Rimouski 
  • 2014 Prix Hommage du Festijazz Mont-Tremblant 
  • 2013 Prix JazzFest des jeunes du Québec (MusicFest Canada) 
  • 2013 Médaille du Jubilé de Diamant de Sa Majesté La Reine Elizabeth II 
  • 2013 Prix OPUS du Conseil Québécois de la Musique : ‘’Interprète de l’année’’ 
  • 2013 Reçue Membre de l’Ordre du Canada 
  • 2012 Prix Coq d’Art de la Fondation Culture et Arts Visuels de Laval 

  • 2011 Doctorat honoris causa décerné par l’UQÀM 
  • 2009 Prix FÉLIX à l’ADISQ pour l’album «Lorraine Desmarais Big Band» 
  • 2007 Prix des compositeurs «André Gagnon» SPACQ 
  • 2007 Prix d’interprétation au clavier de la Fondation des Arts de l’Ontario 
  • 2006 Prix FÉLIX à l’ADISQ pour l’album «Jazz pour Noël» 
  • 2005 Prix OPUS : «Elles Jazzent» Concert Jazz de l’année 
  • 2005 Prix ARTS ET CULTURE Gala Femmes de mérite 

  • 2004 Prix JUNO pour «Lost In The Stars» avec Guido Basso 
  • 2004 Prix à la création du Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec 
  • 2002 Prix OSCAR-PETERSON au Festival International de Jazz de Montréal 
  • 1991 Prix des compositeurs de la SOCAN pour l’album «Vision» 
  • 1986 Prix : GREAT AMERICAIN JAZZ COMPETITION, Floride, USA 
  • 1985 Prix FÉLIX à l’ADISQ pour l’album Jazz de l’année «Trio Lorraine Desmarais»

AVAILABLE PROJECTS

​LORRAINE DESMARAIS JAZZ

  • Street Beat Suite, Lorraine Desmarais Trio
  • Lorraine Desmarais Trio Plays Bill Evans
  • Lorraine Desmarais, Trio: Jazz for Christmas 
  • ​Lorraine Desmarais Big Band​



LORRAINE DESMARAIS WITH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA​​

  • Maurice Ravel Piano Concerto in G major (Upon request: available video for listening​)
  • George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue​


​NEW!

LORRAINE DESMARAIS TRIO

STREET BEAT SUITE

​Street Beat Suite is an eight-movement work composed by Lorraine Desmarais. Swing, jazz waltz, bebop, free jazz, funk, hip-hop, Afro-Cuban music, romantic ballad… An invitation to a unique moment when a trio of virtuosos draws on a rich palette of styles to offer a passionate portrayal of the riverside city. 


VIDEOS

Jam Session, par le Trio Lorraine Desmarais​

À l'aube... Vers le Fleuve..., par le Trio Lorraine Desmarais​​​ ​ 


Street Beat, par le Trio Lorraine Desmarais​ 


Promenade de la mer, par le Trio Lorraine Desmarais

MUSICIANS

  • Lorraine Desmarais – piano
  • Alec Walkington – double bass
  • Camil Bélisle – drums


The suite: ORANGE BRÛLÉ is the beautiful setting sun seen from the top of the hill at the entrance to the city of Rimouski. VALSE SAINT-GERMAIN is reminiscent of a welcoming café on Saint-Germain Street. LE PRÉSIDENT AIME CHICK is a playful nod to the legendary Chick Corea. PROMENADE DE LA MER celebrates the joy of a stroll along the river, accompanied by the song of the seagulls, while JAM SESSION portrays the atmosphere of a late night filled with impromptu musical encounters. STREET BEAT is an exhilarating street jazz number with a hefty dose of funk! PAQUITO is inspired by a wonderful concert Lorraine gave alongside Cuban saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera. And lastly, after all that jazz, stillness and serenity returns with À L’AUBE… VERS LE FLEUVE…​

LORRAINE DESMARAIS TRIO PLAYS BILL EVANS

Bill Evans profoundly revolutionized jazz piano and the trio formation. A subtle performer and inspired composer, Evans integrated the harmonic colors of French impressionists Debussy, Fauré and Ravel into his playing. The musicians of Trio Lorraine Desmarais are thrilled to recreate their favorite Bill Evans pieces on stage; creativity, virtuosity, musicality and sophistication.


VIDEOS
Periscope, par Bill Evans - interprétation Lorraine Desmarais


Bill, par Lorraine Desmarais - Trio Lorraine Desmarais joue Bill Evans​​



MUSICIANS
  • Lorraine Desmarais – piano
  • Alec Walkington – double bass
  • Camil Bélisle – drums

LORRAINE DESMARAIS TRIO & JEAN-PIERRE ZANELLA

​JAZZ FOR CHRISTMAS

Let's get in the holiday spirit with the Lorraine Desmarais Trio and saxophonist Jean-Pierre Zanella. These Montreal jazz icons perform Christmas classics, from Ave Maria to Jingle Bells, with style! Jazz lovers as well as those who want to get off the beaten track when it comes to holiday music will find in this Jazz for Christmas the perfect antidote to the blues that come with year-end celebrations. With saxophonist Jean-Pierre Zanella as guest soloist, Lorraine Desmarais revisits and even reinvents such favorites as Jingle Bells and Schubert's Ave Maria, while providing surprises through her remarkable arrangements.


VIDEO

Silent Night / Sainte Nuit - le Trio Lorraine Desmarais et Jean-Pierre Zanella au saxophone


MUSICIANS

  • Lorraine Desmarais – piano and arrangements 
  • Jean-Pierre Zanella - soprano & alto ​saxophones​ 
  • Alec Walkington – double bass
  • Camil Bélisle – drums

BIG BAND LORRAINE DESMARAIS

Danses, Danzas, Dances!.. Leading 15 of Montreal’s finest jazzmen, Lorraine Desmarais takes to the stage to offer her latest big band creation: a suite of dances inspired by musical traditions from all over the world. Passion, virtuosity and humor pervade the concert program, which showcases the improvisational talents of the outstanding players. Entirely written by Desmarais, the music is contemporary and current, with the occasional nod to the golden age of the big band. Every piece sways to the seductive rhythms of world famous dance styles: an irresistible Irish “Reel”, a luscious “Tango” and a fiery “Milonga” from Argentina, a Latin-American “Habanera”, an American “Ultra Triple Swing,” a jazz “Walzer” with a touch of Viennese flair, a Jamaican “Reggae Do!” and a Cuban “Bolero Romantico.”


VIDEOS

Lorraine Desmarais Big Band - Danses Danzas Dances

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